Epilepsy monitoring unit ... what's it like? - Epilepsy Message Board

obxbaby98 · 08-23-2006, 09:45 PM

I have to spend a couple of days in Septmeber at an epilepsy monitorinig unit. While the dr and emu director explained what will be going on, it would be great to hear from anyone who has actually been to one or works at one.

Can anyone help me out, please? What's it like?

Thanks.

Colleen04 · 08-24-2006, 08:50 PM

I went to the Cleveland Clinics Epilepsy's monitoring unit 6 years ago. Basically from what I remember I had all the wires connected to my head from the EEG. They took me off my medication in hopes of me having a seizure. WHich I did, and quite a few. When I did have a seizure they all rushed over to me to turn me to my side. To tell you the truth it was so long ago I hardly remember anymore. They were videotaping the seizures as well. It was basically just a stay in a hospital other than that. Watching T.V., reading, anything to keep me busy. I was there for 3 days. I was only 16 and I was ****ed I had to be there on my spring break, so I wasn't the happiest patient. But it wasn't too bad. I just graduated nursing school a month ago and my hope is to one day work in an epilepsy clinic like that. If you have any more questions just let me know.

aunti2egl · 08-24-2006, 10:06 PM

How does one go about being able to do that? I see my Neuro on the 14th, and honestly something like that I would be willing to try, going off my meds would be scary, but if it can tell them something......
When I had my MRI, I was already taking the meds (Diagnosed in Nov 03, had MRI in May of 04) and it was "Normal", as normal as my brain can look after having been born with hydrophephalus and 2 brain surgies when I was 9 months old and 6 yrs old.....Unfort. it didn't help matters that my mom didn't have my xrays or medical stuff from that, so anyways.......Sorry for rambling, I was just curious about what you were talking about.

Colleen04 · 08-25-2006, 11:18 AM

I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 4ish or 5ish and all I had were grande mals. Well when I hit about 13 I started having something weird. I thought it was my heart because it felt as if it was coming from there but it turns out I had developed partial seizures as well. They admitted me to the Clinic to figure out what the second "thing" I was having was. So by taking me off my medicine they were able to observe my seizures and they diagnosed my partial seizures while I was there.

Quote:

Originally posted by:aunti2egl

as normal as my brain can look after having been born with hydrophephalus and 2 brain surgies when I was 9 months old and 6 yrs old.....Unfort.

Do they think the hydrocephalus from when you were little caused your seizures?